Let's Eat Halal: Food By Muslims for Everyone – Shahed Amanullah

Let's Eat Halal: Food By Muslims for Everyone – Shahed Amanullah

Author: Meli Solomon, the Talking with God Project February 13, 2025 Duration: 37:17
Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life
ReligionReligion & SpiritualityIslamJudaismSpirituality

Episode 89.  

Every culture has its food, and in America, each immigrant group has contributed to the bounty of culinary options––from Italian pizza to Jewish delis and much more. Muslims are no different. What this group has brought, however, is a wide array of foods, since Muslims hail from many countries. My guest today, Shahed Amanullah, a renowned entrepreneur, created a short list of restaurants that offered halal food in 1998. What began as a simple list for himself and his Muslim friends, has grown into a juggernaut. Now an app called Zabihah, it is the world’s first global halal restaurant discovery and delivery platform, including 14,000 locations in the U.S. and 50,000 worldwide. In this conversation, Shahed and I cover many aspects of the halal food scene, and the parallels with Jewish kosher laws among other things.


Highlights: 

  • Halal food as a symbol of Muslim presence in America.
  • Defining Halal and Zabiha.
  • Variations in halal observance among Muslims.
  • Halal as both a spiritual and communal expression.
  • Evolving Halal standards debate.
  • Shared principles and practice between halal and kosher traditions.
  • Eco-Kosher and organic principles in halal practices.
  • Spirituality of Food in Islam.


Bio:
Shahed Amanullah is an accomplished entrepreneur, product developer, and investor/mentor for early-stage startups. He is the founder of Zabihah, the world’s first global halal restaurant discovery and delivery platform, and serves as Managing Director of Elian Capital, a private equity fund manager and investment advisor based in San Antonio. Shahed holds a BS in Engineering from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Georgetown University.


Social Media links for Shahed:  


Transcript on Buzzsprout


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The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet. 

 

The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project. 


Hosted by Meli Solomon of the Talking with God Project, Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life is a conversation about the practical realities of spiritual life. This podcast moves beyond abstract theology to examine how ancient traditions from Judaism, Islam, and other spiritual paths actually inform our modern routines, decisions, and relationships. Each episode delves into the nuanced spaces where belief meets action, exploring the challenges and rewards of aligning deeply held values with everyday behavior. You'll hear from a variety of voices discussing how they navigate this integration, whether through ritual, ethical choices, or community engagement. The discussions are grounded in real-life experience, focusing on the tangible ways faith provides meaning, fosters connection, and shapes identity in a contemporary context. Rather than offering simple answers, this series invites reflection on the ongoing, personal work of weaving spiritual principles into the fabric of daily existence. It’s for anyone curious about how others live out their convictions and seeking inspiration for their own journey toward a more coherent and purposeful life, all through thoughtful, accessible dialogue.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 101

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